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EXECUTIVE EDITOR BOB GRITZINGER: This SuperCrew version of the 2012 Ford F-150 Harley-Davidson stomps a huge footprint out there in the world, in every way. Maybe I've been driving a lot of smaller cars lately, but this truck seems huge. And the prominent side graphics and Harley logos only add to that size. Inside, the cabin is equally gargantuan—it's more than a full arm's length to the opposite door panel, and a reach even to everything on the center stack. This is a big truck.

Thankfully, like most trucks nowadays, it doesn't drive as big as all that. The engine pulls strongly enough, the steering is steady and true, the suspension keeps it from wallowing around and the brakes bring it all to a stop when you call for it. That said, I still found myself generally driving slower and more sedately than I might normally, if for no other reason than I didn't want to make a quick move and unwittingly crush some Honda Civic or Chevrolet Cruze in traffic. The mirrors are good, but I'm not sure they are that good. This vehicle is equipped with rear-obstacle detection; I could see adding blind-spot detection just to help out.

Overall, this is a heck of a lot of vehicle, truck or otherwise. If your trim needs run to showy, without being over the top, the Harley might be your truck.

One last thing: I can't see someone owning this without first owning a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Isn't that a very small niche in the market?

EDITOR WES RAYNAL: It's a monster, all right. Everything about this Ford F-150 Harley-Davidson is over the top, from the amount of equipment to the graphics to the power. This is literally a ton of truck, and bystanders loved it everywhere I took it.

There's not much that this baby can't do, and even less that would stop it from its appointed rounds. This truck will do about anything you ask. What I asked it to do was launch the family boat this weekend, a task it handled with no drama whatsoever. It's all big and brawny and V8 growly.

Gritz wrote that “it doesn't drive as big as all that.” I disagree: I think it does indeed drive as “big as all that.” I thought the steering was too light on center, and add in that the suspension is just stiff enough that unladen, the thing hops around quite a bit on potholes and such, and you have a truck that takes more than a little focus to keep it on the straight and narrow. Again, that's with no payload, and that's also on not great roads. For the most part it just drives like great, big, honkin' F-150.

The F-150 remains atop the sales numbers as it has for years and by quite a margin. Astonishingly, Ford can't tell me how many of those are the Harley-Davidson model. Actually, I flat out don't believe that Ford “can't” tell me; more like Ford won't tell me. I really wanted to know what the mix is.

EXECUTIVE EDITOR ROGER HART: I like the Harley-Davidson edition F-150, I dig the graphics inside and out, I love the badging, and I even like the Harley logo that flashes across the MyFordTouch screen. But I keep wondering who buys this truck and pays the extra $8,000 to $10,000 that the HD package adds to the price?

Granted, as pickups go, this rides and handles just as well as any other pickup, has terrific brakes for a truck and by all accounts is as capable as any pickup around. If you are a Harley owner, do you buy a pickup like this? If you don't own a Harley, can you pull off the Harley look just by owning the truck? Are you double badass by owning both, or a poseur if you own the truck and no bike?

Despite asking all of these questions, I do think it's a good marketing link for both companies, and Ford was smart to do it. Just based on how many people asked me about the truck means that it strikes a chord with the general public. Good or bad, that really doesn't matter, I guess, as people do react to it.

ROAD TEST EDITOR JONATHAN WONG: This F-150 Harley-Davidson is a slick-looking rig riding on the 22-inch wheels with painted spoke inserts and tasteful exterior graphics package. The snakeskin leather sprinkled throughout the interior gives it a little more visual kick along with the big Harley-Davison badges on center-console lid. And I'm about the farthest thing from a pickup truck guy as you'll ever find.

During my night with it, I went to pick up a new workbench for my home garage. With the bed extender, the two long and heavy boxes fit perfectly. The rubber bed mat made sliding cargo into the bed difficult, but it was nice to prevent the boxes from sliding around during driving.

Speaking of driving, as Bob points out, it doesn't behave or feel like the behemoth that it is. Having a muscular 6.2-liter V8 under the hood for motivation helps to effortlessly move it around, and the automatic transmission performs smooth and quick shifts. Brakes are very strong, and the 22-inch rubber helps it sling around a corner well, with steering response that is OK for a pickup truck. The suspension keeps things composed, which is nice because there is nothing worse than a vehicle that feels as if it might fall over onto its side.

It's a nice truck, though. I would imagine your typical Harley-Davidson owner also likes his or her pickup trucks, so the connection works well. And you can't ride your motorcycle all the time. For the times when you can't, you can have a Harley-Davidson pickup to roll around in instead.

2012 Ford F-150 Harley-Davidson SuperCrew

Base Price: $52,990

As-Tested Price: $53,615

Drivetrain: 6.2-liter V8; 4WD, six-speed automatic

Output: 411 hp @ 5,500 rpm, 434 lb-ft @ 4,500 rpm

Curb Weight: 5,984 lb

Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 13/13.3 mpg

Options: Tailgate step ($375); pickup bed extender ($250)

For more information: Check out the 2012 Ford F-150 Harley-Davidson SuperCrew at shopautoweek.com.